Spray valve control mechanism for internal combustion engines



Dec. 8, 1931. GUN

SPRAY VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. 25, 1929 IN VEN TOR.

TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUGUST OLIN, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ATLAS IMPERIAL DIESEL EN- GINE COMIPANY, OI OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 01' CALIFORNIA SPRAY VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed October 23, 1929. Serial No. 401,791.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines of the full Diesel type.

' It is the principal object of the present invention to generally improve the construction and operation of spray valves in engines of the character referred to whereby to actuate the spray valve through the medium of the fuel pressure whereby the necessity for the provision of springs and like devices for closing and maintaining the valve closed 1s eliminated.

In carrying out this invention into practlce, I provide a valve body in which the spray valve is so mounted that the pressure of the fuel is exerted against the same in a direction tending to open it. The fuel pressure througha suitable mechanical medium is also exerted in the opposite direction against the spray valve to close the same and to maintain the same closed. However, when the fuel cam comes into operation it releases the spray valve so that the fuel pressure thereagainst will act to open the spray valve and'permit the charge to be injected into the cylinder.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

The figure is a view of the spray valve assembly showing the valve body in section to clearly illustrate the cooperative relation between the parts.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 indicates a spray valve assembly of a full Diesel internal combustion engine. This spray valve assembly includes a valve body 11 having a spray valve chamber 12 formed therein and in which a spray valve 14 is reciprocably mounted. At one end of the spray valve chamber 12 the valve body is formed with a nozzle 15 of the type described and claimed in my co-pending application entitled Spray valve assembly for internal combustion engines, filed October 21, 1929, Ser. No. 401,793.

This nozzle is formed with a valve seat 15 'with which the valve 14 cooperates in con- At its opposite end the spray valve projects through a packing gland structure 17 which prevents the leakage of fuel through the end of the spray valve chamber around the spray valve. At this latter end the spray valve engages a rocker arm 18 which is plvotally supported as at 19. One end of this rocker arm 18 is fitted with a cam roller 20 bearing against a wedge 21 which is interposed between the roller 20 and the spray valve operating cam 22 secured on the fuel cam shaft 23 of the internal combustion engine on which the present mechanism is assembled.

The valve body 11 is formed with a fuel inlet chamber 24 which is in communication with the valve chamber 12. The fuel inlet chamber 24 is connected by means of a union 25 to a fuel delivery pipe 26. The fuel under pressure entering the chamber 24 from the pipe 26 passes into the valve chamber 12 and the pressure thereof exerted against the shoulder on the valve between its larger and relieved portion exerts a force thereon tending to open the valve. This opening force is balanced however by the means of a plunger 27 mounted on the valve body as illustrated. This plunger is mounted 1n a chamber 28 which communicates at its inner end with the fuel inlet chamber 24. The plunger bears against the rocker arm 18 at the opposite side of the pivotal point of the rocker arm from which the valve 14 bears.

The direction in which the plunger 27 bears against the rocker arm is the direction tending to maintain the roller 20 in contact with the wedge 21 and to' maintain the valve 14 seated. The plunger 27, however, is spaced from the pivotal point of the rocker arm 18 a distance greater than the valve 14 is spaced therefrom, so assuming that equal pressures are exerted on the valve and on the plunger the difference in leverage will enable the plunger 27 to maintain the valve seated under normal conditions. However, when the high point of the cam 22 forces the outer end of the arm 18 downwardly against the action of the plunger 27, the valve 14 will be free to open and the fuel pressure thereagainst will be sufficient to open the valve to admit the injection of a charge through the nozzle 15. However, as soon as the igh point of the cam rides over the Wedge 21 the fuel ressure against the plunger 27 will cause the atter to return the rocker arm 18 to a position seatingsthe spray valve.

y the structure here disclosed I .am enabled to substantially balance the spray valve 14 so that it will quickly react to the operating conditions and increase the efficiency of the engine. Likewise, it will be more efiicient in operation at higher s eeds than the ordinary type of spring hit erto most commonly used to effect seating of the spray valve.

In operation of the device, assuming that the parts are in the osition shown in the drawing and fuel un er pressure is injected into the fuel chamber 24, this pressure will bear simultaneously against the plunger 27 and against the spray valve 14. The difference in leverage due to the positioning of the plunger 27 and the spray valve 14 will enable the plunger to overcome the tendency of the spray valve to open and will maintain the same seated throu h the rocker arm 18. However, when the ii h point of the cam engages the wedge 21 t e rocker arm will be actuated against the action of the plunger 27 which will release the spray valve so that the fuel pressure will open the same and the correct quantit of fuel injected into the cylinder upon w ich the spray valve assembly is mounted. As soon as the high point of the cam rides over the wedge, however, the plunger 27 will actuate the rocker arm 18 to close the spray valve.

It is obvious that by this mechanism the spray valve will be substantially balanced and will operate in accurate timed relation to the remaining operating mechanism of the engine.

While I have shown the referred form of my invention, it is to be un erstood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in v the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, a spray valve body connected with a source of fuel under pressure, a spray valve in the body and controlling the passage of the fuel therethrough, valve closing means influenced by the fuel ressure to normally maintain the spray va ve closed, and means whereby the pressure of the fuel will be exerted on the spray valve to open the same when the valve closin means is rendered ineffective, said valve 0 osing means operatin through a lever whereby the pressure thereo is greater than the pressure tending to open the valve.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a

spray valve body connected with a source of fuel under pressure, a spray valve in the body and controlling the passage of the fuel therethrough, a lever engaging the valve, valve closing means influenced by fuel pressure and engaging said lever constantly tending to maintain the valve closed, means whereby the fuel pressure will be constantly exerted on the valve to open the same when the closing means is rendered ineffective.

' 3. In an internal combustion engine, a spray valve body connected with a source of fuel under pressure, a spray valve in the body and controlling the passage of the fuel therethrough, means whereby the fuel pressure will constantly exert an opening force on the valve, a pivotal rocker arm, one end of the arm engaging the valve, a plunger engaging the arm at the other side of its pivotal oint, said plunger being actuated by the uel pressure and so positioned that it will maintain the arm in a position closing the valve.

4. In an internal combustion engine, a spray valve body connected with a source of fuel under pressure, a spray valve in the body and controlling the passage of the fuel therethrough, means whereby the fuel pres sure will constantly exert an opening force on the valve, a pivotal rocker arm, one end of the arm engaging the valve, a plunger engaging the arm at the other side of its pivotal point, said plunger being actuated y the fuel pressure and so positioned that it will maintain the arm in a position closing the valve, and cam means engaging the arm to overcome the plunger and permit the opening force to open the valve.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a spray valve body connected with a source of fuel under pressure, a spray valve in the body and controlling the passage of the fuel therethrough, means whereby the fuel pressure will constantl exert an opening force on the valve, a roc er arm pivoted intermediate its ends to the body and engaging the valve, a plunger reciprocably mounted in the valve bod in parallelism to the valve said plunger eing disposed at the side 0 the pivotal point of the arm opposite to the valve and engaging the arm, the distance be- 115 tween the pivotal point of the arm and the plunger being greater than the distance between the pivotal point of the arm and the valve, said plunger being adapted to be influenced by the fuel pressure in the valve 120 body to maintain the valve closed through the medium of the arm.

6. In an internal combustion engine, a spray valve body connected with a source of fuel under pressure, a spray valve in the 125 body and controlling the passage of the fuel therethrough, means whereby the fuel pressure will constantl exert an opening orce on the valve, a roc er arm pivoted intermediate its ends to the body and engaging the 13) valve, a plunger reclprocably mounted in the valve bodgein parallelism to the valve said plun er ing disposed at'the side the pivota point of the arm opposite to the valve and engaging the arm, the distance be tween the pivotal point of the arm and the plunger belng greater than the distance between the pivotal point of the arm and the valve, said plunger being adapted to be influenced by the fuel pressure in the valve body to maintain the valve closed through the medium of the arm, and cam means engaging the arm to overcome said plunger and permit the opening force exerted on the valve to open the same.

- AUGUST OLIN. 

